Animal trap



Jul 5, 1 932. w. KNiPPELMElR ANIMAL TRAP Filed June 27. 1953,

WN U IN VEN TOR.-

WWZM ATTORNEY 3 drawing the trap comprises a base 1 in the is bifurcated and a slot 18 is thus provided Patented July 5, 1932 p r I UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE" Application filed June 27, 1931. Serial No. 547,226.

This invention relates to animal traps. which it is coiled'so that it may ex-pandout- The main object of the invention is to prowardly and freely pass over the ratchet teeth vide a simple, inexpensive and eflicient trap 2, the particularpurpose andadvantage ofin which the animalcatching or holding elethis action being hereinafter set forth. Apers, ment is in the form of a snare or loop adapted tures 8 are provided through the post 3 near to draw tight around the animal when caught its upper and lower ends with their axes in so as to instantly kill the animal and relieve line with the axis of the base 1. A snare 9 the same of suffering. in the form of a cord,'small chain, flexible A further object is to provide a trap of this wire or other suitable material is provided in character embodying a snare as aforesaid and the ends thereof are passed through the spring set to draw tight about the animal as apertures 8 and are secured to an eye 10' it springs the trap and so arranged that the formed at the end of the aforesaid arm 7. snare is then looked in the animal holding The arrangement is thus such that the normal position to positively prevent the escape of tendency Qf the p g 4 'E P II n m re the animal.

With these and other objects in view the upon the ends of the snare loop 9 and draw its invention resides in the novel construction bight 11 tight against the post 3. and arrangement of parts as hereinafter set A $101: 12 is provided through the post 3 forth and claimed, reference being had to the parallel with and above the lower aperture8 2o accompanying drawing wherein: p and a pivot pin 13 is passed through the post Figure 1 is a side view of the trap in its and laterally through this slot. The trigger set position. i 14 comprises a bifurcated treadle or pan15 Figure 2 is an enlarged section along the and the upwardly and outwardly bent arm line 22 in Figure 1, i 16 provided at its end with a hook 17. The

outwardly at its outer end will exert a pull 25 Figure 3 is an enlarged detail side view arm 16 of the trigger is passed through the p partially in section of a portion of the trap slot 12 and is pivoted on the pivot pin 13, the showing the trigger elements in their sprung treadle or pan 15 being thus disposed forposition, Wardly of the post 3 and dependend down Referring now more particularly to the adjacent the base 1. As aforesaid the treadle form of an elongated rod or bar having into which the lower portion of the snare 9 ratchet teeth 2 formed along its intended may enter as it is drawn taut as bestshown underside adjacent one end and having a ver- 7 in Figure 3. An arm 19 is extended from the tically set post 3 adjacent but spaced from its post 3 beneath the end of thetrigger arm 16 113 opposite and hereinafter referred to as forand a latch 20 is pivotally or hingedly conso ward end. An expansion coil spring 4 is nected at its lower end at 21 to the lower coiled around the base 1 and is braced at its end of this arm 19. A latch rod 22 is attached inner end against a collar 5 secured on the by one end tothe eyelO and has a'loop or eye base some distance inwardly of the ratchet 23 formed at its free end.

40 teeth 2, the opposite end of the spring being In use the trap is first set by compressing 8::

straightened and coiled about one of the end the spring 4 and pulling the bight 11 of the I convolutions at 6 and then bent upwardly and snare9 forward as shown. The latch 20 is inwardly back over the remainder of the then swung'upward, the loop or eye 23 on the sprin to form the arm 7. The spring 4: is latch rod 22 is slipped over the latch and the n consi erably larger than the base 1 around hook 17 on-the trigger arm 16 dropped or hooked over the upper end of the latch by first slightly depressing the treadle 15 and then raising it. The spring 4 is thus held against expansion and the trap is set and is about the animal. The springs as it expands passes over the ratchet teeth 2 and as the snare 9 draws tight about the animal the arm 7 acts to pull the outer end of the spring slightly upward pulling one or more of the .end convolutions of the spring into engagement with the ratchet teeth as shown in F i ure 1 in dotted lines. The snare 9 is thus 100 red tight about the animal and any struggles thereof, should they slightly loosen the snare, will result in the snare being locked in successively tighter positions as will be apparent. An aperture 25 is provided in the base 1 through which a wire, peg, or chain may be passed to hold the trap upright or to hold it against displacement and for similar reasons the other or forward end of the base is pointed as at 26 "so that it may be forced into the earth or other object.

From the'foregoing it will be evident tha I have provided a simple, and efficient trap which may be constructed for use in catching practically any animal and which is humane in its operation. r s While I have herein set forth a certain preferred embodiment of my invention it is understood that I may vary from the same in minor structural details so as best to con- --'base and braced at one end inwardly of the and a latch rod secured to the said eye on the arm and looped at its end for engagement with the said latch.

2. In a device of the kind described, a base, ratchet teeth on the base, an expansion coil spring operatively mounted on the base and adapted to engage the ratchet teeth as it expands, a post secured to the base, the said post having apertures, a snare passed through the said apertures and secured at its ends to the said spring, and trigger means for releasably holding the spring in a compressed position.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

' WILLIAM KNIPPELMEIR.

ratchet teeth, an inwardly bent arm on the 1 outer end of the spring, an eye formed on the inner end of the said arm, a snare passed through the apertures 1n the said post and 7 connected at its ends tothe said eye on the arm, and trigger means for releasably holding the spring in a compressed position, the said trigger means comprising a trigger pivoted on the post and hooked at one end, a latch pivotally attached to the post and adapted to] be engaged by the hooked end of the trigger, 

